The Pope County Health Department has reported that four skunks have tested positive for rabies since the beginning of 2014.

The viral disease, which is spread through bites or scratches from infected animals, attacks the nervous system and brain of mammals. The virus, if left untreated, ultimately shuts down the nervous system of its host. Dogs and cats are most commonly affected by the virus, as rabid skunks are often drawn to populated areas.

“We generally deal with skunks that get into yards or pins with one or two dogs,” Jeremy Hale, Pope County health inspector, said.

Hale said skunks, being nocturnal mammals, should not be wandering about during daylight hours. If a skunk is spotted during unusual times, however, Hale said to avoid all contact if possible.

“I”m not saying that if you see a skunk crossing the field that it is automatically rabid, but that it is an indicator that the animal is possibly infected,” he said.

There are five known strains of rabies in the United States, but only two — the bat and skunk strains — are common in Arkansas. Susan Weinstein, the state’s public health veterinarian, each strain of rabies may seem the same, but there is a marked difference visible to the trained eye.

“Rabies looks alike in all animals,” Weinstein said. “But in the labs, there are differences. The skunk strain is uniquely adapted to be in skunks. It propagates itself from one skunk to another through bites and scratches. By noting the differences in the labs, we can determine the specific strain of rabies in the infected animals.”

Weinstein said because the strain of rabies in dogs was eradicated in the United States, rabies currently exists only in the wild. Even so, not every skunk is a walking infection, she said.

“It is estimated that perhaps 3 percent of skunks have rabies,” said Weinstein. “Skunks are not Typhoid Mary’s. They are not all carriers. They get sick and they die just like other wild mammals that contract the virus. The virus is only spread through bites and scratches, not proximity.”

If the worst should happen and a healthy animal is bitten or scratched by a rabid skunk, Weinstein said the virus is treatable.

“There are treatments available to fight the virus, and the treatments are almost uniformly successful,” said Weinstein. “But hopefully, the animal’s owner has followed state law and had their pet vaccinated against rabies.”

The Arkansas rabies law requires that all dogs and cats — four months of age or older — be vaccinated against the rabies virus. The vaccinations must be kept current, meaning that owners must ensure that pets are regularly vaccinated.

Weinstein said steps should be taken to prevent skunks from entering residential areas. However, Weinstein noted skunks are part of Arkansas’s wild habitat, and that it is the responsibility of Arkansas residents to prevent pets from being attacked by rabid animals.

“There are several things that people can do to prevent wildlife from coming to the front door, and these things make sense,” said Weinstein. “One of the biggest things is to not leave food out. Many people have outdoor dogs and barn cats, so they leave the food out outside. That draws wildlife up to the house.”

Weinstein said removing shrubs and tall grass near the house also helps prevent skunks and other wild animals from getting too close and possibly becoming a threat. Weinstein stressed the importance of following state law.

“I maintain that people follow state law and have their animals vaccinated,” she said. “We are not going to eliminate wildlife in the state. That is what we all love about Arkansas.”

Weinstein said when skunks are spotted and thought to be rabid, many people automatically respond by shooting the skunk and submitting it to Arkansas State Public Health Laboratory for testing. However, Weinstein said that should a person deem shooting the animal necessary, to take care in the way the animal is killed in order to help the laboratory to better test the animal for rabies.

“If you are going to shoot a skunk, we wish that you wouldn’t shoot it in the head,” Weinstein said. “Rabies infects the nervous system, which means we need to access the animal’s brain to test for rabies. If the animal has been shot in the head, that often disrupts the testing process.”

Weinstein said she wishes to express the importance that all animals be vaccinated against the rabies virus.

“It is devastating to lose an animal against rabies, especially when it is so preventable,” she said. “Unfortunately, there are many who simply do not have their animals vaccinated. The statistics are unbelievable.”

For more information, call the Pope County Health Unit at 968-6004, or Weinstein at (501) 280-4136.